Walt Disney World theme park reservation requirements by ticket type

May 08, 2023 in "MyMagic+"

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Posted: Monday May 8, 2023 3:20pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has announced that in 2024 it will remove theme park reservation requirements for multi-day tickets at Walt Disney World.

Here is a summary of the existing Walt Disney World theme park reservation requirements, and the new requirements coming into effect January 9 2024.

Disney World Park pass reservation requirements through January 8 2024

Through January 8, 2024, to enter a theme park, both a theme park reservation and valid admission for the same park on the same date are required for Guests ages 3 and older.

Prior to purchasing admission, be sure to check reservation availability. Theme park reservations are limited in number and subject to availability. Availability can change until the theme park reservation is finalized. Once you purchase, you can make your theme park reservation(s).

1-day ticket or a specific date and theme park

No reservation required. A theme park reservation is required for a 1-day ticket for a specific date and theme park; however, the reservation is automatically made for you when you purchase the ticket.

1-day ticket with Park Hopper option or Park Hopper Plus option

Reservation required. If you purchase a 1-day ticket for a specific date and theme park with the Park Hopper option or the Park Hopper Plus option, you will need to make a theme park reservation for the first park you plan to visit.

Date-based multi-day ticket

Reservation required. If you have a multi-day ticket, you will need to make a theme park reservation for each date of your visit.

Vacation package with date-based tickets

Reservation required. If you have a multi-day ticket, you will need to make a theme park reservation for each date of your visit.

Annual Pass

Reservation required. Annual Passholders may visit the theme parks after 2:00 PM without a theme park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom park. Applicable pass blockout dates apply. Annual Passes are subject to the Walt Disney World Resort Annual Pass Terms and Conditions and are subject to change without notice.

All other admission types (including Youth, Sport and Convention tickets)

Reservation required.

Disney World Park pass reservation requirements from January 9 2024

Starting with visits on January 9, 2024, theme park reservations will no longer be required for date-based tickets. A date-based ticket requires you to choose a start date when you purchase.
For other admission types, theme park reservations may be required.

No Theme Park Reservation Required

Date-based 1-day ticket
Date-based multi-day ticket
Vacation package with date-based tickets

Theme Park Reservation Required

Student group tickets
Sport and Convention ticket
Annual Pass
All other ticket types not mentioned above

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Royal Purple Pigment2 days ago

It takes me just as much time and effort to log on and see it is good to go. This reservation system was one of the big differentiators in the AP tiers aside from blackout dates. We rarely even use our reservations and have 5 of 5 available. I understand everyone is different but this whole thing is lame. It is so annoying that they never could incorporate it into the app and you had to launch a different website and log in again. They need to dump this lame system or add something as a tier level replacement to the AP program (free Photopass, etc.)

wdisney90002 days ago

People have simply said its annoying, exactly like you yourself just stated in your post. I don't see anybody making mountains. Individually, the requirements you need to be on your phone for are not that frustrating, but when combined, it just gets ridiculous.

bmr15912 days ago

I mean, do you though? Unless you’re coming on a peak week, reservations are always available to make day of. Heck, my wife and I change ours the morning of often. I don’t disagree that making reservations is annoying, but some of y’all make mountains out of things that aren’t actually issues. It makes sense though, doesn’t it? CPs came from all over to work at Disney because they love Disney. Most don’t care to do anything on their off day except go enjoy the parks. With that said, man, what a scheme. “Come work for us! With the little you make, you’ll give us a portion back in rent. We also know you’ll spend a lot of what you make back with us in the parks.” It’s almost voluntary slave labor.

GhostHost10002 days ago

interesting I would also suspect they spend on average way less than annual passholders

wdwmagic2 days ago

It is way way more than that. CPers alone make up a good number on a daily basis.

Bullseye19673 days ago

The fact that CMs have to make a reservation is absolutely insane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How many CMs are in a park on any given day? 50 or 100?. This is nuts but at least they can go again.

Disstevefan13 days ago

May the force NOT be with APers.

Rich Brownn3 days ago

Star Wars day ("May the Fourth be with you") :D

hopemax3 days ago

So far the good to go days for CMs have matched the AP days. CMs can see them on the calendar when they go to make a reservation.

SingleRider3 days ago

Do good to go days apply to CMs as well? I thought it was only APs.

hopemax3 days ago

This one was surprising. I saw the news about the merchandise VQ on May 1st and my Dad wanted a reservation, but none were available (Main Entrance Pass). Then an hour later, it's a good to go day. Whatever, Disney. Why make this so annoying!

Brian3 days ago

Notable. They must not be expecting a big crowd for DHS's 35th anniversary day.

Fido Chuckwagon3 days ago

Wow, May 4th unavailable for AP reservations at HS. I know it's May 4th, but it can't possibly be that busy given how slow it is this time of year. They just want to push AP's to other parks and/or don't want to staff HS enough to cover the demand. Shameful.